Take on the MyWhoosh UCI Cycling Esports World’s course like a pro

This year’s UCI Cycling Esports World Championships on MyWhoosh features a brutal three-stage format – the Mountain’s Verdict, Punchers’ Playground, and The Sprinter’s Paradise – that will put every one of the 40 finalists through the wringer.

The beauty of this course is that it’s available for everyone with a free MyWhoosh account and compatible smart trainer to ride. If the challenge sounds daunting, don’t be so soft; help is at hand. I’ve asked two of the finalists – last year’s winner Mary Kate McCarthy, and former UAE Team Emirates pro Michael Vink – to give a stage-by-stage account of how to launch a successful assault. Ride it solo, or, better still, race your riding pals, wherever they are in the world.

Stage 1. The Mountain’s Verdict

This stage is an elimination race – last man standing – featuring a relentlessly challenging 24 minutes of climbing. Turning up the heat to 11 on an already spicy stage, a virtual Chaser will be deployed two minutes after the start, travelling at a super-human pace.

Any rider caught by the Chaser will be eliminated, with the primary objective to stay ahead for as long as possible. Riders will earn one point for every five seconds they remain in front of the Chaser, with nobody expected to finish the course.

It's easy to underestimate this climb because it starts on the flat and ramps up slowly. However, 4km in and the gradient is well into double digits, with the last quarter rising to a lung-busting 25 percent.

“The key to this stage is not getting carried away too early,” says McCarthy. You've got to enjoy it while it's not so steep, because all of a sudden, it'll kick in, and then you're just suffering until the Chaser catches you.

“You're best to use the draft in the initial part of the climb,” she adds. “It's all about feeling as good as you can for as long as you can.”

“Essentially, it’s a climbing time trial,” says Vink. “I think everyone in the final will be staying together for the first few kilometres, until the gradient hits about six to eight percent, at which point drafting is no longer a ‘thing’. Then it's really just a matter of continuing for as long as you can.

“Pacing strategy is always individual,” Vink continues, “but I think going all out in stage one isn’t the right tactic. There are only a relatively low number of points on offer for staying an extra few seconds ahead of the line. It's important to know your limits and calculate your effort carefully to get the best possible result.”

Stage 2. The Puncher’s Playground

This stage will suit explosive riders who can punch their way through the pack. It’s a 12km circuit packed with rolling hills, a couple of relatively flat sections and a steep climb, cunningly thrown in towards the end to test even the strongest resolve.

Not one metre of this stage is easy. KOM points are up for grabs for the two climbing sections, and the brief flat sections culminate in sprints, with double points awarded to the top riders in the final sprint for the line.

“Well, you've got the two sprints, then the bigger climb,” says Vink, “which is quite short, probably 5-ish minutes. It will suit riders who fall between being a sprinter and a climber. It's definitely not one for a pure climber; the sprinters could probably get pretty close.

“Everyone in the final will get points for every sprint and every single climb, so the more you can move up the order, the better. But consider how much energy you should expend on each section. In the sprints, every place you move up only gives you two points. Now, you might have to do a really big effort to pass two sprinters to get four more points, which could put you in the red. It may not be worth it, because you’d lose far more points dropping 20 seconds in the final climb due to fatigue. It's a case of picking your battles.”

“You need to carefully target the points you want throughout this stage,” concurs McCarthy. “But it's also important not to get too carried away too early. That last hill is a lot steeper and a lot longer than people think. So, you need to ensure you still have something left in the tank.

“Perhaps that means taking it a bit easier on the flats, because if you ride too hard too early, that'll come back to bite you halfway up that climb. Of course, on the flat, you have the sprints to consider too, but you’ve just got to run with your instincts.

“I love this stage, I think it's really cool. But they've designed it to be a bit cruel in a way. It’s all about picking and choosing your moments.”

Stage 3. The Sprinter’s Paradise

This short 1.5km course looks benign enough, with just a couple of modest 4 – 6 percent hills to trouble the riders in the first 1.2km. However, there are eight laps, with a sprint finish at the end of each and every one. The final lap holds the most weight, with double points awarded to the top riders.

“A big thing on this stage is finding your points of recovery,” says McCarthy. “There are two rollers before you hit the sprint. I think using the downhill is pretty key in making sure you get a bit of recovery in. Then, use the speed you get from the second downhill to take you into your sprint.

“It’s also a case of deciding; do I want to go full gas for this one or sit it out a bit? Choose when you want to sprint, and when you’re happy to take a few less points.”

“This stage is going to be about explosive power,” says Vink. “It’s a pivotal stage because of the sheer number of points on offer. The two small hills provide the opportunity for a breakaway in the final, too. It just depends on the group's dynamics.

“If you're not a sprinter, you never really know exactly how it's going to be until the day,” he continues. “You can never quite be sure of everyone's form. With eight sprints, you can afford to sit back a little in the first couple to see how it feels and what everyone's level is. If you're not able to get in that top 10 consistently in the sprints, then the only choice is to try to break away.

“There’s the opportunity for a bit of collusion. A couple of riders who aren't sprinters could agree to try something on after the first few sprints.”

Ride it yourself

It might be too late to qualify for the finals, which will take place in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on 15 November, but there is still plenty of time to ride the course, whatever your fitness level, ability, or racing experience. To launch your own assault, download the MyWhoosh app, register for a free account, and connect your smart trainer.

Once you are set up, navigate to the 'Routes' section, where you’ll find the World’s course. It’s a fun challenge to try to outrun the virtual Chaser in The Mountain's Verdict stage, but you can disable this feature if you prefer, allowing you to ride the 8.2 km climb at your own pace without the fear of elimination.